A wide variety of skin care techniques are available today; so much so, that it can be dizzying to the overwhelmed consumer. One method of skin care popular today is the fruit acid face peel. Proponents claim that these types of peels exfoliate the skin, leaving it smoother and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Function
Fruit acid peels are basically chemical exfoliants. Rather than using mechanical methods of abrasive or gritty ingredients to physically scrub away the outer layer of dead skin cells, peels chemically remove this outer layer of dead skin--the process known as exfoliation. Using the phrase “chemically” does not mean it’s a bad or damaging process; it just means the actual chemical makeup of the peel is what makes it an exfoliant. The procedure is not uncomfortable, and the only recovery afterward is to conscientiously wear sunscreen to protect the skin, especially immediately after a treatment, because the peel will temporarily make your skin more sensitive to sun damage. .
Contents
Most fruit acid peels consist of alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, that dissolve the outer layer of dead skin. The term fruit acid comes from the fact that AHAs are derived from fruit sources. Apples and pears have malic acid, oranges and lemons have citric acid, grapes have tartaric acid and sugar cane has glycolic acid. The most common acids found in these peels are lactic and glycolic acids due to their ability to penetrate skin.
Procedure
The peel is a fairly mild procedure and is performed in a series of several applications in the doctor’s office or several consistent applications of a home product. The type of AHA determines the level of its pH and its concentration. The level of acid content also is what determines who may use the product. The lower percentages are suitable for consumer use in over-the-counter preparations, higher ones for licensed cosmetologists, and the highest concentrations are reserved for doctor use only.
Benefits
Removing the outer dead layer of skin gives several pleasing results. The acids literally destroy the structures that keep the cell attached on the outer layer of skin, causing it to fall off. It smoothes out lines and small surface wrinkles, improves the overall texture of skin, especially if sun damaged, removes dry, rough skin and can balance pigmentation.
Risks
There are some risks associated with these peels. Naturally, as with any product put onto the skin, there is a chance of allergic reaction or inflammatory response from the irritation of the acid. Skin tone may be affected, but usually it is a temporary condition and improves after the skin irritation subsides. If prone to cold sores, the irritation of the peel may bring on an outbreak, which is treatable with medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring reports of these negative side effects since 1992, but the number of these complaints has decreased with each subsequent year since 1994. The complaints received in higher numbers were from products with the highest concentrations.
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